New Zealand's rental vehicle industry is introducing a Code of Best Practice to educate visiting drivers.

The aim is to improve the safety for all road users and comes in the wake of a number of recent fatal crashes involving tourists.

The rental vehicle industry is working on a new code of practice to educate tourists before they drive on New Zealand roads.

One of those crashes happened in the Western Bay of Plenty last month, when French national Nathan Luc Alain Boucher was killed on State Highway 2, near Esdaile Road.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing, but early indications suggests that a large object - thought to be a portable toilet - fell from a truck Nathan was following and into the path of his car.

To avoid the object, Nathan swerved into the other lane and into the path of an oncoming truck, say police.

Earlier this month, three American tourists lost their lives in a crash at the intersection of SH39 and Tuhikaramea Road.

Initial reports suggest a blue Toyota Highlander car with four persons on-board heading north on SH39 turned right, across the path of a southbound truck and trailer unit, at the intersection with Tuhikaramea Road. Police have charged the driver of the car.

In response to these and numerous other serious crashes involving tourists, about 25 rental vehicle companies met in Auckland on Monday to discuss concerns about the safety of visiting drivers.

The group unanimously agreed to develop the Code as a matter of urgency.

'Any action or commitment to improve the safety of our roads is a step in the right direction,” says Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss.

'This Code builds on a large amount of work already underway, including the multi-agency Visiting Drivers Signature Project.”

Craig says there is no silver bullet but, when combined, a number of seemingly small actions build to create a safer system for all road users, including the increasing number of overseas visitors choosing to explore our country by car.

A small working group is drawing up the Code, which is likely to include:

- Increased screening of driver experience.

- More pre-arrival information about New Zealand driving conditions.

- More information sharing between rental operators.

'No matter what the cause, every crash on our roads where someone is killed or badly injured is a tragedy,” adds Craig.

'I welcome any initiative that helps ensure visiting drivers have all the necessary tools and information to have a safe and enjoyable time on our roads.

'I have already raised the Code with officials at the Ministry of Transport and have asked them to consider how we can assist its development and implementation.”